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MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Powered by senior Reece Wiedeman's (Suwanee, Ga.) double-double, the Georgia College men's basketball team (5-2, 1-0 PBC) took a win Saturday from Lander University (3-4, 0-3 PBC) in the Centennial Center. The victory starts the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) season for Georgia College.

Wiedeman had 19 points to go with 11 boards. The 6-foot-8 center blocked a pair of shots while also shooting 9-of-13 from the floor. Sophomore Nate Hamilton (Snellville, Ga.) supplied a spark with a career-high 12 points off the bench, including a pair of threes.

"Nate got a little bit of experience last year," said GC head coach Terry Sellers, "but he really played well for us today. Maybe this is the beginning of something for him, where he can provide that spark for us off the bench for the rest of the season."

The first half was a struggle for the Bobcats, as Lander led by as many as 10 points at 25-15 at the 3:23 mark. A runner in the lane by Jared Holmes (Indianapolis) at the halftime buzzer cut the lead to five at 27-22. Holmes finished with eight points.

The Bobcats picked it up in the second half, tying the game on a pair of occasions before taking the lead 38-37 on a Ryan Aquino (Roswell, Ga.) three-pointer with 12:57 left. GC wouldn't let the Bearcats get the advantage back for the remainder of the contest, although the game was tied twice.

Lander had two chances at tying the game late, missing a decent three-point look from the corner with six seconds left, then after the Bobcats couldn't ice the game with a missed free-throw, another off balance three was off the mark as time expired.

Guard Tovi Bailey led the Bearcats with 13 points, getting 10 in support off the bench from Darion Canty.

The Bobcats out-rebounded Lander 43-30, including a 15-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Aquino led all rebounders tonight with 12, his third double-digit rebound game of the young season.

The Bobcats have a big break, and are back in action traveling to Savannah, Ga. for the Hampton Inn & Suites Holiday Classic, hosted by Armstrong Atlantic. GC takes on Barton College (4-3), Friday, Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/GCSUBobcats and www.facebook.com/GCBobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.